Epilogue:

Home safe with a filthy bike and gear still strewn across the garage I’m already looking forward to my next mix up with these guys. Maybe I’ll just repack for next weekend’s Mayday Melee IV.

I had a great time despite the weather (the right gear is 99% of the solution to that), met some great people that love riding and got a good start to an education on the dual-sport side of motorcycling. I’m honored to have been asked to lead WARPED IX and am looking forward to making sure it is as much fun next year as it was this year. Hopefully with better weather and more riding.

Until next time!

Total Trip: 1002 Miles

Sunday, April 14, 2012

Sunday dawned mostly clear and cold with plenty of thick frost.

Some hung out in camp waiting for the tents to dry and saying their farewells. Mike, Andy and I decide to eat breakfast in town while everything thawed out.

Afterward, Mike and Andy patiently waited while I struggled to get everything back on the bike. Didn’t think to take a photo until I was home, but here it is:

I followed Andy and Mike out over the mountian via Twin Oaks. Wow. Not the best route on a top heavy street tires bike. Need to get some video up on that.

We get out to the 58 about the same time as another group of FF’s and while Andy, who is in the lead is talking to them, I took the opportunity to root through my tank bag for my SPOT, which I had neglected to turn on when we left. I was just a minute behind them in pulling out but somehow, to make a long story short, we all got separated coming out. I did catch up to Andy, so we stop and wait. And txt. And call. And wait. And then decide to go on into Bakersfield and gas up until we can connect. By the time we did connect and make sure everyone was safe, Mike was so far ahead that we decided to call it a day and let everyone take their own ride home. I chased Mike up 99 the remainder of the afternoon never actually catching up with him and Andy headed west for a route with more twisties.

Today’s Route: 347 Miles

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Saturday dawned dryer but still overcast and Mike, Andy and I decided to ride Death Valley. First stop was Ridgecrest for breakfast at Kristy’s Family Restaurant. Much better Chicken Fried Steak here than yesterday’s stop. And the rest of the day we spent running into the same usual FF’s at all the gas stops.

The temps rose about 20 degrees from camp to Ridgecrest and we saw a lot more blue sky. Peeling off a layer before going into Kristy’s.

They wanted to make a run to “the pinnacles” and so I, being on a 100% certified street bike, demurred and spent a half hour taking photos instead. Off they peel for some dirt.

Not exactly a thriving metropolis here. Lot of abandoned buildings to shoot. Here are a few shots from the next hour or so.

We reconnected after their excursion and Andy offered to let me ride his BMW F800 GS. I took it out for a quick spin and may well have found my next bike. Still doing research though.

Later, along some lonely stretch of highway I saw Mark ahead of me signaling. And here is where the confusion set in. When I make, or see that same signal with my regular riding buddies it means “go on – let it rip.” And so I did.

Unfortunately, he was waving me up to let me know his bike was dying on him. Typical n00b mistake I suppose. They were both relaxed about the whole deal. My kind of riders. I did get a nice run out of the Connie in the process however. Next investment clearly needs to be a radar detector. Luckily when he caught up, he was still running and we made it back to camp in time for dinner and the raffle. It was nice to be dry and warm again, if even for a few hours.

It was looking better and getting colder – dropped another 20 degrees again in about 10 minutes of climbing toward the new front.

With the cloud cover gone, it turned off COLD. Good thing there was food, beer and a couple of fires. Not sure who ordered the ice cream for dessert, but I’ll bet there was plenty left over. Dinner was excellent as was the beer. Although no one started the rumor in time and we ran out before all the prizes were awarded.

Getting close the grand prize, GillaFunk pipes up and says “Whoever wins the Klim prize has to run next year’s WARPED.”

And I thought to myself – “Awe shit, I’m going to win that damn gift certificate.” BOOM. Gerg claimed that the drawing was rigged. I think that was just his way of sinking the hook.

Beerless again as the keg of red was emptied during dinner and the raffle, we took up a collection and Gerg and sopascat, and perhaps some others made a beer run. God bless his fur-covered head.

Anyway, later, around the fire I committed to being the HDIC of WARPED IX if Gerg and Yeti would support me and keep me from making any n00b mistakes. Of course they agreed, no skin off their nose, and so next year I’ll be heading up this bunch of misfits, degenerates, and adventurers. And the best part of this deal is that GillaFunk is already on the hook for WARPED X.

Lots of ideas were offered around the fire and the general consensus was that the theme should be “Post Apocalypse” based on the Mayan calendar running out this year. I’ll leave it to your imagination as to the various sub-themes that were submitted.

One thing I can say for DaFool and YetiGS: they can build a fire

Today’s Route: 302 Miles

Friday, April 13, 2012

Woke up Friday with rain and low-and-behold there was no water in the restrooms. The well had collapsed to the property. Not a good start to the day.

Everyone stood around waiting on Gerg’s next pot of coffee to perk and trying to stay warm for awhile. And being resourceful, a ride in the deluge into town for breakfast and a bathroom was deemed the best course of action.

Chicken Fried steak for breakfast again:

Back at camp, while the erstwhile Eagle Scout NappyG (AKA Ben Carufel ) dried his gear in sopascat ‘s dryer, (don’t ask) while she knocked out a couple of batches of brownies for everyone – what a doll!, we decided to live up to the name of the event and started the Endurance Drinking about 10 AM. The keg still had plenty of beer.

The agenda for the rest of the day boiled down to drinking, eating, bitching, trading insults, telling lies and trying to stay dry. There were a few breaks in the rain and then it started snowing. Snowing for crying out loud!

DaFool defying the weather gods!

The Connie’s first snow.

Lucky for us and the restaurant patrons, along about 3 PM the camp owner got our water back on and it lasted till about noon on Sunday.

Some folks couldn’t handle the pressure and disappeared (or perhaps more likely they were just off for more beer).

Cell reception was not great for AT&T in camp, but txt messages seemed to get through okay and Pete, TheDonPuccio, was keeping me abreast of his trip down from Sac. Mid-afternoon I got the message his bike wouldn’t start in Fresno after gassing up. About an hour later the next message was that it was his starter clutch. He arranged to get it started and turned around and headed home. Another participant out. Next year Pete – I’m going to need some minions.

Sometime in the afternoon Gerg brought by a sample of the most righteous stout I might have ever touched lips too. THANKYOU CONESTOGAMAN! Nice to know you’ll be bringing some of that back next year!

DaFool cooked up some amazing ribs, the beer flowed, the lies got bigger, the insults sharper, and the night colder.

That is the official ADV salute Mike (DaFool) is flashing in response to the question of when dinner is going to be ready.

Dragon M trying to stay warm in his mesh gear.

Auggie_Doggie and JStory waiting patiently on dinner.

Lasherman and his brother Memnok enjoying a pre-dinner cigar.

YetiGS, former HDIC for WARPED VI and VII, never misses a salute opportunity.

Now those are coming along nicely.

I’m sure I’ll miss some, but I had a great time with DaFool, Yeti, Darien, Nappy G (aka:Ben Carufel), JStory, Gerg, Cyath, sopascat , SenorPeligro, Lasherman, Memnok, Bonerov, Augie_Dogie, Roger and a whole bunch of other FF’s who’s names and or ADV handles I didn’t catch. Apparently even Petefromberkely and RAZR were at our fire and I never made the connection. Next time gents!

By the time we went to bed we could see stars. Disappointed that Pete won’t be joining us, but hopeful we’ll have riding weather tomorrow!

Today’s Route: 5.9 Miles